Banks to stay open this weekend for Hajj applications

ISLAMABAD – According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Friday, authorized banks in Pakistan that are currently accepting Hajj applications will remain open from 09:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday (December 9 and 10).

A ministry official highlighted in a statement that applications for the government’s Hajj scheme are being accepted on a daily basis. “Banks have decided to extend their working hours during weekends to facilitate Hajj pilgrims,” the spokesperson said.

In terms of seat allocation, Pakistan has secured approximately 179,000 Hajj seats, and half of these will be filled by private Hajj operators. The Ministry of Religious Affairs will oversee these operators to ensure pilgrim well-being, with accountability for any issues.

As far as the details for Hajj 2024 are concerned, the government has introduced a short Hajj package, ensuring completion within 25 days. Priced at Rs 80, 000 more than the Long Hajj package, the cost for Short Hajj stands at Rs 1,140, 000 for individuals from the southern region(Burewala, Bhakkar, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Jhang, and Dera Ghazi Khan) and Rs 1,150, 000 for those from the northern areas (Mansehra, Naran, Kaghan, Gilgit, Chilas, Passu and Karimabad).

For the Long Hajj package, pilgrims will have an extended journey lasting up to 42 days, with eight of those days spent in Medinah. Departing from southern parts like Karachi, Quetta, and Sukkur, the cost of this experience is Rs 1,065,000. For those departing from the northern parts (Mansehra, Naran, Kaghan, Gilgit, Chilas, Passu, and Karimabad) the cost is slightly higher at Rs 1,075, 000.

Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, obligatory for all Muslims who can afford it. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Pilgrims perform a series of rituals, symbolizing unity, equality, and spiritual cleansing.